Wednesday's letters: Guns, politics and schools

Wednesday

May 9, 2018 at 5:14 AM

Knifing victims have hope; semiautomatic victims don't

In his speech at the NRA meeting, President Trump criticized the level of knife crime in London and compared one hospital to a "war zone." He said, "They don't have guns, they have knives and instead there's blood all over floors of this hospital."

Recently 17 Florida high school students and staff members were attacked and killed by a person firing a semiautomatic weapon.

For a victim who is stabbed, medical intervention is available. There is hope for recovery. The authorities in London have no easy solution for preventing a recurrence. It would be difficult to ban the purchase of knives. Increased vigilance and a more severe form of punishment for the assailants might be the only options.

For the victims who are shot and killed by a semiautomatic weapon, there is no hope. And the authorities in Washington do have a solution: The young people of America have repeatedly asked for a ban on the purchase of semiautomatic weapons by civilians.

This in no way contradicts the right of any person to own a gun.

Marjorie Leeson, Venice

Schneider should withdraw to avoid Democratic primary

I urge Democrat Jan Schneider to reconsider her candidacy for the 16th Congressional District in 2018. Her filing for the seat will result in a primary, and to what end?

As a Democrat and an active supporter of Schneider’s past efforts to be elected to Congress, I ask her to withdraw in the interest of the voters and the party. Such consideration is not without precedent this year: Recently, Calen Cristiani withdrew from the race and urged support of the Democratic candidate.

To avoid a primary, particularly this year, with the winner running against a very well-funded Republican incumbent, is in the interest of local Democrats and the party.

Schneider is to be applauded for her continuing service and will be admired for her courage to reconsider and withdraw.

Edna Hausman, Longboat Key

School Board should reject charter school application

Friday’s article, “Charter School Up for Debate,” hinted at many of the problems associated with the Pinecrest Academy’s application, now pending with the Sarasota County School Board. But it did not tell the whole story.

The Pinecrest Academy is one of over 150 charter schools managed by Academica, Florida’s largest and wealthiest for-profit charter management company.

In 2011, the Miami Herald wrote a series of articles, “Cashing In on Kids,” calling out Academica for its profiteering through its interlocking board structure, lucrative tax-funded real estate deals and “leadership retreats” at luxury Bahamian resorts. In 2014 the US Education Department’s Inspector General began an audit of Academica, identifying several conflicts of interest between Academica and the schools it manages.

The founder and president of Academica, Fernando Zulueta, has become very wealthy off our tax dollars. Zulueta and his family in 2012 controlled more than $115 million in school property in South Florida alone — all exempt from property taxes.

The Zuluetas have amassed this wealth by setting up over 20 land companies that buy or build schools, renting them back to their own ever-growing number of Academica schools at an inflated rate.

Academica has over 50 schools in Miami-Dade County alone, seriously harming public education there.

If approved, Pinecrest would become the first Academica school in our area. Will Academica then want to open five, 10, 20 or more schools here?

Let’s not find out. The School Board should vote down the Pinecrest application.

Carol M. Lerner, Sarasota

Trump didn't hijack GOP; he reflects voters' values

An AP article by Bill Barrow (May 6) was out of line in the use of the word "commandeered."

President Trump was elected by voters who favor a conservative, constitutional, law-abiding government. We chose him and we are the GOP.

It is obvious that the party had drifted away from our values, so the establishment GOP is having a hard time understanding what is happening.

But make no mistake, Trump didn't hijack our party. The voters chose him as one who reflects our values.

I urge the writer not to change his voter registration. We need more moderate Republicans to bring our party closer to the center, where the majority of Americans, of all parties, are.

Moderation in governing has become, to some far-right and far-left Americans, a weakness. I believe that this is not how most in our country believe.

Having moderate Republicans voting in primaries ensures that we have a voice in deciding who represents us. Without our votes, Republicans continue to offer, in my view, extreme candidates, unwilling to work for the best interest of our country.

James "JJ" Jurdak, Sarasota

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